February 12, 2010
Ur Video: What is Absolutely True?
What do people in a post-Christian society really believe?
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In October 2010 the Lausanne Movement will convene the Third Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa. In preparation for that gathering, Lausanne and Christianity Today are developing a "Global Conversation" around the issue to be discussed in Cape Town.
In February 2010 the Global Conversation tackles truth—and the reluctance of post-Christian societies in the West to trust claims of absolute truth. We asked residents of a secular university city whether there was anything they were still absolutely sure of. Their answers suggest bridges as well as barriers for dialogue between Christian and secular neighbors.
Read more about evangelism and relativism on the Global Conversations website.
Common Ground from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.
Posted by UrL Scaramanga on February 12, 2010
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Comments
Is this a theological question or an epistemological one?
As Christians shouldn't we be asking "Who is The Truth?"
Not...
What is true?
Isn't that the priority? Isn't that the heart of the Christian message?
Jesus?
Posted by: nathan at February 13, 2010
i ask, because if we make epistemology the ground where we stake our claim, we really aren't staking our claim in revelation, but in human theories of cognition...no matter how much you try to claim a particular one is "more biblical" than another...
further, epistemology is NOT a criteria for christian identity or orthodoxy...
why is this unfortunate move being perpetuated here?
Posted by: nathan at February 13, 2010
You can't pretend that your theology is prior to your epistemology, or that you can somehow have one without the other. It just doesn't work that way. Your epistemological starting point will inevitably color your theology.
Posted by: toddh at February 16, 2010
@toddh
I don't dispute that epistemology colors our theology...but i don't think it's a one way relationship.
But a particular theory of knowing is NOT an article of faith.
In some circles "epistemology" is being used as a criteria of genuine Christian identity.
I think that adds to the Gospel.
Ironically, i think such a stance is itself a heresy being used to fight off or fend off "heresy".
No one has sufficiently demonstrated that a particular theory of knowing is demonstrated in the person of Jesus and the message of the Kingdom.
Posted by: nathan at February 16, 2010
@nathan
Reading back over what you wrote, I think we are pretty much in agreement. I think too that a particular theory of knowing is not an article of faith, and that in some circles this is being abused. Also that the "who" question is more important than the "what" question.
I think I was just reacting to the whole thing about staking our claim in revelation vs. theories of cognition. I'm saying that we can't get to revelation apart from whatever theory of cognition we subscribe to. Our view of revelation is inevitably colored by it. As far as theology influencing epistemology - I suppose so? I guess it must.
Posted by: toddh at February 16, 2010
@toddh,
i would agree and I probably wasn't doing a good job communicating by setting up the revelation vs. knowing.
It just seems of late that people put their hope in the concept of "absolute truth", defending a category...
Posted by: nathan at February 17, 2010